Jackal Among Snakes

The man masked in a bandana held up a small stone rod, and the lock on the iron gate clicked open. He opened the gate quietly and walked in. Ahead, an overgrown garden waited. Argrave walked through, and Anneliese and Galamon followed shortly behind him. Argrave looked up, seeing several giant black towers looming above. He briefly turned back to the stone tunnel behind them, poorly lit by magic lamps.

“Welcome to Jast,” the man said. “That wooden token we gave you: hold onto it. You’ll need it. Your cargo will be at a house in the southern side of town. Search for the building with the—”

“With the horseshoe hanging from the metal fence—yes, I know, I know,” Argrave interrupted, readjusting his satchel bag where he knew the wooden token was. “That’s all. Have a pleasant day.”

“Right,” the man said conclusively, dragging the iron gate back shut. “Don’t blame me if you get lost.” He looked at Galamon and Anneliese. “Keep your elves in line. We won’t tolerate their kind if they don’t know their place.”

“It’s me you should be worried about,” Argrave dismissed. “If you’re smart, you’ll walk back into that hole,” he waved the man away down the stone tunnel.

After a begrudging glare, the man turned away. Argrave looked around the overgrown garden, feeling somewhat nostalgic. The gate finally shut, and he heard the fading noise of boots against stone as their escort returned to the point they’d been taken from.

“Do most human cities have services like this?” Anneliese questioned.

“No,” Argrave answered quickly. “Jast is special. Considering the number of wizards that make their home here, there’s a large demand for smuggling services. The Order of the Gray Owl is very strict with their management of the sale of magic goods, but a lot of wizards need a lot of money. Ergo, illegal operations like this abound in this city of magic.”

“I question if we may not have attracted more attention entering the way we did,” Galamon noted. “These people… they’re the sort that buy and sell information.”

“Well, I know who they work for,” Argrave tapped his temple. “And it isn’t particularly problematic for me if that person knows I’m here.” With that, Argrave turned on his heel away from Galamon.

Argrave walked about the garden without purpose, looking around and taking in the sights like he was returning back to a familiar place after years. The birds connected to Argrave via [Pack Leader] swooped down, landing on a particularly thick branch. In a big city like this, these birds would be largely useless.

“So, what are we to do here?” Galamon prompted, stepping up to Argrave. He carried Argrave’s lockbox in the crook of his arm, his other hand resting on the handle of his Ebonice axe.

Argrave snapped back to attention, turning back to the two of them. “First we get lodging, we get our cargo, and then we put the cargo in said lodging. I won’t say the rest here. Doubtless the little syndicate we employed has ears on this place. They already know enough.” Argrave turned, gesturing behind for them to follow. “So, let’s be off.”

They walked through the overgrown garden, carefully minding the plants and infrequent rubble. Eventually Argrave spotted a familiar overturned mossy gargoyle and a great abandoned mansion. At one time it may have been a palatial estate, but now much of the towering building was crushed beneath giant black bricks and covered in greenery.

Argrave walked along the outside of the mansion before they came to a simple stone wall. They followed it until there was a hole in the wall, and then exited discreetly into the alleyways of Jast. The buildings were all close-set and made of dark stone, so the scene was quite eerie. Argrave looked back to Galamon, who nodded as though assuring him.

After a quick and tense walk through the alleyways, the din of a great many people moving started to enter Argrave’s ears. He could see light up ahead. He moved towards it, and when they passed out of the alleyways, the streets of Jast greeted them. Though not as busy as Mateth had been, the place still abounded with innumerable people.

a very dark place. The bricked stone road resembled concrete after rain even when completely dry. The sunlight was partially blocked by the many towers standing hundreds of feet above them. It reminded Argrave of big

remembered the city. The thought made him want to sigh, but he kept it inside. Anneliese was looking around everywhere, her curiosity unrestrained as ever. Argrave grabbed her and Galamon, bunching them closer together, before conjuring a D-rank ward around them to block the sound. No one looked at them strangely—blocking conversations in this manner

have enough money to buy one of these towers about town, but it’s all in rose gold magic coins—a little bit difficult to pay for bread or

hands. “From there, we’ll buy some of those circlets you can see people wearing. I mentioned this to you before, Anneliese. Look,” Argrave pointed to a person in a passing crowd. “See that man with the iron band on his forehead? It’s a bit difficult

Galamon

to wear those here…” Argrave remarked, his head following the man as he walked along. “It’s a pretty common item, especially on account of the ever-present criminal element. Just a simple illusion enchantment. Anneliese and I probably see past the magic much clearer than Galamon, a non-mage. It’s going to

to face him, neither particularly amused

out what’s going on before we prance on over to the Burnt Desert. If the Duke of Elbraille

have something in mind?” Anneliese

“I need to have a little chat with a man by the alias of ‘Stain.’ He’s a

from you,” Galamon

rogue, a thief, a swindler, and many other such reprehensible professions. His biggest merit is that he’s got a high position in Jast.” Argrave shrugged. “This may be a dead end.

even began. Melanie was at Mateth and would likely remain there for some time. For

was one of three characters inclined towards rogue-like professions, and Jast offered many opportunities for such individuals. This came alongside his local

into fragments of magic and dissipating into the air.

strangely excited. It’s been such a long time,” some of Argrave’s giddiness leaked into his

#####

ruins guarded by the metal things, he went to one of the more reputable and well-guarded inns on the northern side of the

managed to feel truly refreshed for the first time after their journey into the Cavern of the Lily’s Death. There were few opportunities to clean

quite a confusing place to navigate. The city was level and much of its buildings looked the same, so Argrave mostly relied on the shop signs to remember where he was. After a few

house. It looked abandoned and poorly maintained even made of stone as it was. The glass windows had been blown out and replaced with wooden boards. Argrave gave the horseshoe a spin as he passed by it, and it jangled noisily against the fence. He opened

Argrave gestured. “Not expecting trouble,

and shifted the greatsword on

as Galamon walked by. “Worrying, even. Everyone has to

your mouth,” Anneliese noted as she entered

“If I could afford to, I’d be

too well,” she concluded, walking ahead after

held up four gauntleted fingers, and Argrave quickly processed he meant there were four people